Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon in the foreseeable future.
In a speech, Netanyahu described the area secured by the Israeli military as a buffer between Hezbollah in Lebanon and civilians and communities in northern Israel.
He said Israel would maintain its military presence there for as long as its security needs require it.
The Lebanese government rejects Israel’s position, describing the area under Israeli control as Lebanese territory under illegal occupation.
The framework agreement reached between the United States and Iran calls for a broader end to military conflicts across the region, but it does not explicitly require Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group, remains Iran’s most important regional ally.